Regency Period Papier Mâché Tea Caddy

View Similar Items

19th Century English Papier Mâché Tea Caddy

19th Century Lacquered Papier-Mache Tea Caddy

18th Century Henry Clay Papier Mache Tea Caddy

Regency Mahogany Tea Caddy

Regency Tea Caddy

English Regency Rosewood Tea Caddy

Tiny Regency Partridgewood Tea Caddy

Regency Rosewood Sarcophagus Tea Caddy

Regency Burr Yew Tea Caddy

Antique English Regency Period and Styled Hand Painted Toleware Tea Caddy

Early 19th Century Regency Period Flame Mahogany Tea Caddy Box

English Regency Tea Caddy

1 of 8

Regency Period Papier Mâché Tea Caddy

About the Item

An attractive Regency period papier mâché and mother-of-pearl inlaid tea caddy, multiple serpentine front with Sheffield plated escutcheon. The interior with two compartments retaining silvered paper lining, mother-of-pearl knobs to the lids, slightly rubbed but overall in good condition considering the age. Starting circa 1725 in Europe, gilded papier mâché began to appear as a low-cost alternative to similarly treated plaster or carved wood in architecture. Henry Clay of Birmingham, England, patented a process for treating laminated sheets of paper with linseed oil to produce waterproof panels in 1772. These sheets were used for building coach door panels, amongst other structural uses. Theodore Jennens patented a process in 1847 for steaming and pressing these laminated sheets into various shapes, which were then used to manufacture trays, chair backs, and structural panels, usually laid over a wood or metal armature for strength. The papier-mâché́ was smoothed and lacquered, or finished with a pearl shell finish. The industry lasted through the 19th century. Russia had a thriving industry in ornamental papier mâché. A large assortment of painted Russian papier mâché items appear in a Tiffany & Co. catalog from 1893. Martin Travers the English ecclesiastical designer made much use of papier mâché for his church furnishings in the 1930s. The word tea caddy is believed to be derived from catty, the Chinese pound, equal to about a pound and a third avoirdupois. The earliest examples that came to Europe were of Chinese porcelain, and approximated in shape to the ginger-jar. They had lids or stoppers likewise of china and were most frequently blue and white. Until about 1800 they were called tea canisters rather than caddies. Earlier tea caddies were made of either porcelain or faience. Later designs had more variety in materials and designs. Wood, pewter, tortoiseshell, brass, copper and even silver were employed, but in the end the material most frequently used was wood, and there still survive vast numbers of Georgian box-shaped caddies in mahogany, rosewood, satinwood and other timbers. These were often mounted in brass and delicately inlaid, with knobs of ivory, ebony or silver. Many examples were made in Holland, principally of the earthenware of delft. RR.

Dimensions:
Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
Style:
Regency (Of the Period)
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1820
Condition:
Seller Location:
Peterborough, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 60011stDibs: LU103281168906